THIS ELECTION is about who is best prepared to lead and defend our nation and its global allies. John McCain understands the nature of the terrorist threats that continue to confront us all. In the time I have been privileged to work with him, Sen. McCain has been at the forefront of every effort to enhance the security of the American people in the aftermath of Sept. 11.

Sen. McCain sponsored the legislation that established the 9/11 Commission and worked tirelessly to see that it had the resources necessary to do its job. More importantly, Sen. McCain spearheaded efforts in Congress that produced the most significant reform in the nation's intelligence gathering and defense capabilities since 1947 -- when Harry Truman was President.

To the extent that we have been less vulnerable to attacks like those we suffered on 9/11, the extraordinary leadership of John McCain, often in face of what appeared to be insurmountable obstacles, is one of the reasons.

This election is one of the few in our nation's history when at least two wars are being passed from one President to another. America needs a commander-in-chief at the helm who is ready to be President on the day he or she takes office. John McCain is ready to be President from day one. He has seen and suffered the consequences of war. He has also worked tirelessly in Congress for the last quarter century to keep Americans safe -- from an era President Kennedy termed a "hard and bitter peace" during the Cold War to today, perhaps an even more dangerous time.

In the history our nation, only a handful of senators exerted a greater influence over the lives of free men and free women around the world than had many Presidents. John McCain has been one of those senators, and he will make an extraordinary President.

As I support Sen. McCain, my thoughts go back to another great man who was called upon to resolve one conflict and preside over a worldwide struggle with a persistent and determined enemy. His name was Dwight D. Eisenhower. As people my age well remember, Ike kept his eye on an important struggle, the one we waged on several fronts and through several means against the Soviet Union.

Ike personified all that was right about America. America, Ike reminded us, is not good because she is great. America is great because she is good. You can see why John McCain so reminds me of Ike.

Like Dwight D. Eisenhower and like Ronald Reagan, John McCain senses the dangers our country faces and he is the man best prepared to face them. His service to our nation has earned him the respect of his fellow citizens. He will be able to use the trust they place in him to rise above the partisanship and divisiveness that have come to characterize Washington today. He will use it, as he has in the past, to bring people together. He will draw upon the best people and ideas of all parties and political persuasions to address our nation's most pressing problems in ways that make us all safer. For these reasons, I am honored to support John McCain for President.

Tom Kean, former Republican governor of New Jersey, was chairman of the 9/11 Commission.

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